Cold weather shelter opens for the season

Jeff McCoy

Staff writer

jmccoy@journal-news.net

Journal photo by Jeff McCoy
Shelter manager John Cloyd, left, helps new resident Jack Hensley get set up on the first night of the cold weather shelter in Jefferson County.

CHARLES TOWN — Tim “Jack” Hensley walked into the shelter as man who has traveled a long and weary mile. He was quiet and reserved. There was nothing to say and he is used to people not caring. However, on this night things were different. After a hot, homecooked meal at Jefferson County Community Ministries’ (JCCM) office, he went to the shelter, becoming the first person in for this season.

“I’ve been on the streets since 1992,” Hensley said. He was tired.

Shelter Manager John Cloyd sat down at a table and talked with Hensley. Even though they just met an hour earlier, they seemed like two friends having a chat after a hard day’s work. That’s part of JCCM’s plan — make everyone feel at home and provide a place where they are safe, at least for the night.

JCCM Executive Director Robert Shefner was on hand and making sure everything went smoothly. Cloyd was also at JCCM offices when the hot meal was provided. Some new faces showed up and also some regulars. He brings a van and offers a ride to anyone who would like to have shelter. A line formed in the hallway in front of the make shift dining area. Several people talk to him as they get in line.

“Get something to eat.” Then a moment later, “Louie, how are you doing buddy?” Cloyd asks as if he is talking with his best friend.

And so it goes. A meal served with dignity. After a day of being put down, cussed out and told to “move on,” some of those in need could use an extra helping of it.

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints from Harpers Ferry prepared the meal and served it with a smile. Member Pamela Harmon summed it up as to why they are there.

“Our congregation pays money once a month for the needy. Basically, we donate half the food and then the other half our church prepares. It’s like a group effort and that’s the way the Bishop wants it, so everybody can feel us reaching the community, you know, the love for everyone. That’s how we do it,” Harmon said.

After the meal, those in need of transportation were offered a ride in the van. Just a short distance away one of the 11 churches offering a warm place awaited. Hensley was shown around the make shift shelter. He patiently waited as the rules are explained. He knows the rules, maybe even better than the volunteers. He has seen many shelters in his travels across the United States. He used to work as a flooring contractor. That was before the accident. He has no family.

“I have a bad back and my health is what caused me to end up on the street. I’ve had a lot of health issues. I kept telling myself to push through it and I’m still telling myself to push through it, but I’m 51 years old now and it’s like the older I get the more pain I’m in,” Hensley said.

Cloyd explained how the operation works. A volunteer is always on hand overnight.

“Some called it fire guard in the military, just somebody that is there in a position of authority who can call a paramedic if need be, or answer any questions or really sometimes just talk to the folks. This might be the only conversation they have. It’s interesting because I have never done anything like this before. I had some friends who volunteered down here and I found that retirement wasn’t all it is cracked up to be. I had a little time on my hands so they put me to work,” Cloyd said.

Jeff Levesque volunteers to stay overnight — to be the fire guard.

“When the coalition started up initially, it was the two churches and then about the third year we kind of moved around to rotating between churches,” Levesque said.

For Cloyd, Shefner, Levesque, the cooks and food servers, and the many other volunteers, the time with the homeless is not a wasted evening.

“These are people whose lives have collapsed, not necessarily because of drugs and alcohol. Most of us, myself included, have no clue as to how close we are to being right there with them,” Cloyd said.

Cloyd explained the homeless do not always fit the profile many in the public have of them. One of their clients from a few years ago was without a home because of a great loss.

“He was working and she was taking care of the kid and they were doing fine and his wife and son were killed in an automobile accident and it just completely broke his spirit to the point where he couldn’t work anymore and so he lost his job and lost his house,” Cloyd said.

JCCM volunteers worked with the man and finally got him into an apartment. The man later returned to his home state of Texas where the accident occurred. That type of one-on-one assistance has helped many. For Shefner, it’s the only way to make a life-changing impact.

“Everything we do is individualized. One size stopped fitting all a couple of years ago,” Shefner said.

That attitude is what may be the right approach for Hensley. Now that someone has reached out, offering a hand and a caring friendship, he may be able to get the medical help he needs. Hensley has not been able to do that for years.

“I’m going to start coming in and having them take me to my appointments because I’m in a situation that is do or die,” Hensley said.